DOCSIS 3.0

While DOCSIS 3.0 isn’t the very latest standard, it’s not exactly antiquated either. The only newer standard is DOCSIS 3.1 that supports 10 GBPS downstream, a luxury few people are privy to.

DOCSIS 3.0 was a huge improvement over DOCSIS 2.0 and provides A LOT of additional bandwidth and provides support for IPV6. This modem is perfectly suitable for all current cable providers.

Built-In N300 WiFi Router

This is a trend in the industry that I can really get behind. Having a WiFi router built-in to your cable modem means that you won’t have to worry about running and maintaining two separate devices.

The only downside is that when your cable modem and router are separate you are freer to configure and upgrade your wireless network as you please.

However, for most people, this built-in router will provide plenty of wireless access without the hassle of setting up two devices to handle your internet connection.

While the name is “N300”, don’t mistake this for a Wireless-N router. It supports AC, N, G and B devices. Take a look at Router200 for more specifics on the technical aspects of this modem.

Gigabit Ethernet Connection

Gigabit Ethernet is great if you have a centralized server for data storage on your network. The wired connection will provide more than enough bandwidth to serve multiple wireless clients simultaneously. This is great if you want to setup a centralized media server that feeds various devices throughout your home. And you can learn about home networks by reading our home network guide here.

Comcast and Time Warner Certified

This cable modem router combo is certified to work with both Comcast and Time Warner networks. That isn’t to say it won’t work with other cable providers, though. The DOCSIS 3.0 standard ensures that your cable modem will be able to connect with any service provider who provides access using this standard.

If you’re not sure whether or not this cable modem will work just call up customer support and ask them if DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems work on their network. Odds are the answer will be yes. Or you could check your current cable modem model (if you have one) and see if it is DOCSIS 3.0 compatible.

TIP: Did you know that most internet providers try to give you older modems they buy at bulk? Not only that, they charge you usually around $10 per month for “renting” the modem from them. Since most companies can buy thousands of older models at a time, and manufactures love getting rid of old stock, the providers sometimes pay under $20 per unit. That’s a nice little profit!

Painless Setup

One of the advantages of having a modem/router combo is that you only need to configure a single device. You don’t need to worry about the extra cabling and power connection. The quick-start guide will get you up and running fast and should you need support you can rest assured knowing that you can call a USA based technical support line to get help.

If you’ve ever struggled with support from other countries you’ll know how big of a plus this really is.

Compact Vertical Design

This cable modem stands upright so it doesn’t have a huge footprint. You can easily fit it on your desk or in a tight space if need be. The vertical design also helps to keep your cable modem cool which will ultimately extend the lifespan.